I do not say this as one who desires it; in my heart I should rather prefer the contrary⁠—I mean such an increase in the threatening attitude of Russia, that Europe would have to make up its mind to become equally threatening⁠—namely,

to acquire one will , by means of a new caste to rule over the Continent, a persistent, dreadful will of its own, that can set its aims thousands of years ahead; so that the long spun-out comedy of its petty-statism, and its dynastic as well as its democratic many-willed-ness, might finally be brought to a close. The time for petty politics is past; the next century will bring the struggle for the dominion of the world⁠—the compulsion to great politics.